California State University Chancellor Timothy P. White stopped at San Diego State University this week as part of a 23-college tour.

White’s goal to visit every CSU campus within the first 12 months of taking office brought him to SDSU on April 24 and 25, where he hosted a public forum and toured the campus.

Graduate students joined White and College of Sciences faculty for a tour of the Donald P. Shiley BioScience Center after the chancellor’s lunch with SDSU President Elliot Hirshman and San Diego civic leaders.Budget discussion

At the public forum, White discussed the current budget situation and the CSU’s continuing efforts to provide access to higher education for young Californians.

He also answered questions from members of the SDSU community, who filled the Fowler Athletics Center auditorium to capacity.

The majority of his presentation revolved around state appropriations to the CSU, which, White said, has been reduced by a third since 2003. He discussed new ways of allocating budget resources to support student success initiatives and invest in faculty and staff.

“You need great people to do great things for California’s future,” he said.

In the right direction

White noted that despite a shrinking budget, the CSU has continued its work and even excelled, helping to decrease the achievement gap in higher education.

“With a shrinking budget and fewer people on staff, graduation rates are up,” White said.

Schools in the CSU system are accountable for 46 percent of degrees earned by African Americans, and 57 percent of degrees earned by Latino students, he said. An estimated 10 percent of people in the California workforce earned a degree from a CSU.

Also on the chancellor’s schedule were a tour of Aztec Athletics and meetings with Associated Students, the President’s Cabinet, members of the SDSU Senate, members of the Campanile Foundation board, honors students, student veterans, and Guardian Scholars.